Detergent dispensing and dispersing power brushes



Oct. 27, 1964 w. o. WILLIAMS DETERGENT DISPENSING AND DISPERSING POWER BRUSHES Filed Oct. 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W44 75/? 0. VV/L 4/4445 147 O/EVVE) Oct. 27, 1964 w. o. WlLLiAMS 3,153,799

DETERGENT DISPENSING AND DISPERSING POWER BRUSHES Filed Oct. 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR M41 75? 0. W/z z //4M5 HTTOP/WE) United States Patent M 3,153,799 DETERGENT DISPENSING AND DISPERSIN'G POWER BRUSHES Waiter 0. Wiliiams, 15740 Ashton Road, Detroit 23, Mich. Filed Oct. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 229,901 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-29) This invention relates to improvements in detergent dispensing and dispersing brushes particularly adapted for use in washing automobiles, boats, swimming pool walls, windows and other items requiring a thorough cleaning with adequate scrubbing action coupled with semi-automatic application and dispersal of detergent or soap or other cleansing means via the wash water onto the item being washed, the said detergent carrying wash water also serving to power a rotating brush incorporated into the brush element.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a power brush including an annular fixed brush element, a rotary brush element, water turbine means for rotating the rotary brush element, and means for applying detergent or the like to the power brush through the turbine and rotary brush element within and surrounded by an annular fixed brush element, the said detergent applicator being manually operated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power brush as aforesaid including wash water and turbine speed regulating means.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush illustrating the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the power brush shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the construction shown in FIG. 2 with the detergent dispenser removed.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the hose connection and water regulator valve means at the upper end of the brush handle.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, a portion being broken away to illustrate the valve construction.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the particular embodiment of a detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush disclosed to illustrate the invention consists in general of a turbine brush element 10, a tubular handle 11 extending diagonally upwardly from said turbine brush element terminating into a hose connection and valve element 12, and a detergent dispenser 13 connected to the turbine brush element 10 and extending diagonally upwardly therefrom, the said detergent dispenser 13 being of the squeeze bottle type and disposed preferably parallel to and adjacent the handle 11 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The turbine brush element 10 of the detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush consists of a relatively flat dome shaped turbine housing 1% of plastic or other suitable material having a downwardly disposed 3,153,799 Patented Get. 27, 1964 annular outer rim 101 and a downwardly disposed central bearing boss 15 formed therein providing an annular impeller cavity 102. A diagonally upwardly disposed handle receiving sleeve 16 extends from the rear central portion of an outer boss 103 at the top of the said dome shaped turbine housing 100. The lower end of the tubular handle 11 is telescoped into the said handle receiving sleeve 16, and the said tubular handle 11 is sealed in respect to the said handle receiving sleeve 16 by an 0- ring 17. The said tubular handle 11 is fixed to the turbine housing at said handle receiving sleeve 16 by such suitable means as a stud 18. Preferably directly above the said handle receiving sleeve 16 and parallel thereto is a detergent dispenser sleeve 19 formed with a hollow threaded portion 190 to receive the threaded end of the detergent dispenser 13.

Water under pressure passes through the said tubular handle 11 into the turbine housing 100 through suitable jets 2920 disposed augularly in respect to the blades 210 of the turbine wheel 21 which is rotatably mounted on a bearing pin 22 fixed to and extending downwardly from the central bearing boss 15 of the turbine housing 100. A preferably self lubricating type sleeve bearing 211 is molded centrally through the turbine wheel 21 and telescopes over the fixed bearing pin 22 with operating clearance therebetween. A suitable stud 23 disposed through a washer 24 and fixed centrally into the bearing pin 22 mounts the turbine wheel 21 in freely rotatable relationship on the said bearing pin 22.

Mounted on the depending annular outer rim 101 of the turbine housing 1% is a relatively deep fixed annular brush 25, and, mounted on the bottom of the turbine wheel 21 is a relatively shallow circular rotary brush 26. The circular rotary brush 26 is preferably somewhat stiffer than the annular fixed brush 25. The annular space below the bottom of the turbine Wheel and between the said fixed brush 25 and the rotary brush 26 forms an annular wash water cavity B.

In the particular illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the brushes 25 and 26 are formed of tufts of bristles cemented into suitable shallow cavities 250 and 260 provided respectively in the annular rim 101 of the housing 189 and in the bottom of the turbine wheel 21.

If desired, an annular bafile ring 27 having an annular squeegee pad 28 over the depending edge thereof may be employed between the said fixed brush 25 and rotary brush 26 as best shown in FIG. 2. Should such a battle ring 27 be employed, it is preferably secured by such means as studs 29 at suitable places to the bottom of the annular rim 191 of the turbine housing 108. The

bottom of the squeegee pad 28, if the said bafiie ring 27 is employed, is preferably located somewhat above the elevation of the bottom of the bristles of the rotary circular brush 26 as best shown in FIG. 2.

With the foregoing construction, water under pressure entering the tubular handle 11 passes through the jets 2l2tl and is directed by said jets against the turbine blades 210 to drive the turbine wheel 21. Water from the turbine blades 210 passes from the impeller cavity 1132 of the turbine housing 111%) through the space A between the turbine wheel 21 and the rim 101 of the said turbine housing 101 to the annular wash water cavity B below the turbine wheel 21 and between the relatively deep fixed annular outer brush 25 and the relatively shallow rotary circular brush 26.

At the bottom of the hollow threaded portion of the detergent dispenser sleeve 19 is a small detergent chamber 191 around the periphery of which is an annular seat 192 which accommodates a resilient disc type detergent dispenser seal 14 preferably slotted at 140. The outer boss 103 of the dome shaped turbine housing 100 is provided with a detergent cavity 104 which communicates at its upper end 1040 by means of a detergent passage 193 with the detergent chamber 191. The bottom of the detergent cavity 104 opens into the impeller cavity 102 of the turbine housing preferably substantially opposite the jets 20-20.

With the foregoing construction, a squeeze of the detergent dispensing squeeze bottle 13 forces a charge of detergent therefrom through the slots 140 in the resilient detergent dispenser seal 14 into the detergent cavity 104 where it is dispersed in the Wash water as it splashes from the blades 210 of the turbine wheel 21 and then passes through the space A at the periphery of the turbine wheel into the wash water cavity B. The detergent thusly becomes thoroughly dispersed in the wash water, and, under low volume flow, the detergent bearing wash water remains for an adequate period of time at the brushes 25 and 26 for proper and efiicient utilization.

At the upper end of the tubular handle 11 of the detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush is a combined house connector and shut-off and flow regulating valve element 12 having the usual turnable internal shut-off and flow regulating plug 120 having a suitable flow slot 1200 therethrough and turnable by an external key 121 preferably formed integral therewith to provide free flow,

no flow or any intermediate flow of water under pressure from a hose (not shown) connected to the hose connector 122. Obviously, other suitable shut-off and/or flow control valves may be employed.

The speed of rotation of the turbine wheel 21 and its brush 26 is selected by the user of the detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush by manipulating the flow regulating plug 120 of the valve element 12 by its key 121 .The flow of water through the'power brush is preferably reduced to a quite low volume when detergent is supplied thereto 'by squeezing the detergent dispenser 13, and, after a scrubbing with detergent laden water, the volume and rate of flow of water through the power brush is increased to rinse off the detergent and provide the item being washed with a final bath of clean water. Of course, other detergent application, washing and/or rinsing cycles may be employed by the user of a detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush embodying the invention.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described herein, many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and detail of the various elements thereof, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush,

a brush element including a dome shaped housing having a central depending boss and an outer annular depending rim forming an annular impeller cavity,

an impeller rotatably mounted in said impeller cavity on said central depending boss,

said impeller having a plurality of closely spaced generally radially disposed blades around the periphery of the top thereof,

a relatively deep fixed annular brush mounted on, and depending from the outer depending rim of said dome shaped turbine housing,

a relatively shallow rotary circular brush mounted on and depending from said impeller,

said brushes forming an annular temporary wash'water receiving cavity therebetween,

a radially disposed outer boss at the top of said turbine housing,

a tubular handle, including a hose connection at the outer end thereof, connected at its inner end to said housing at the lower portion of said outer boss thereof,

said housing having jet passages therein communicating between said hollow handle and said impeller cavity directing water jets against said impeller blades,

a detergent dispensing squeeze bottle threaded into the upper portion of said outer boss adjacent to and above said hollow handle,

said outer boss having a radially and upwardly disposed detergent passage therein extending from said detergent dispensing bottle opening downwardly into the upper portion of said annular impeller cavity substantially opposite said jet passages,

and apertured diaphragm means in said detergent passage normally closing the passage, with said diaphragm being openable responsive to squeezing said squeeze bottle to pass detergent into said impeller cavity.

2. In a detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush,

a brush element including a dome shaped housing having a central depending boss and an outer annular depending rim forming an annular impeller cavity and including an impeller rotatably mounted in said impeller cavity on said central depending boss with an annular space provided between said impeller and said depending rim of said impeller cavity,

a relatively deep fixed annular brush mounted on, and depending from the outer depending rim of said dome shaped turbine housing and a relatively shallow rotary circular brush mounted on and depending from said impeller,

said brushes forming an annular temporary wash water receiving cavity therebetween,

a tubular handle fixed to said housing and connectable to a source of water under pressure,

said impeller having vertical generally radially disposed blades around the outer periphery of the top thereof,

jet means in said housing directing water under pressure against said impeller to drive the same,

said dome shaped housing having a radially disposed cavity therein located opposite said jet means and opening therealong into said impeller cavity,

detergent dispensing means connected to said dome shaped housing and communicating through said radial cavity With said annular impeller cavity above said turbine impeller whereby water splashing from the impeller blades disperses said detergent thereinto,

said detergent bearing water passing through the space between said impeller and the depending outer rim of said dome shaped housing into the said annular temporary wash water receiving cavity.

3. In a detergent dispensing and dispersing power brush,

a brush element including a dome shaped housing having a central depending boss and an outer annular depending n'm forming an annular impeller cavy,

an impeller rotatably mounted in said impeller cavity on said central depending boss,

said impeller having a plurality of closely spaced up- Wardly and generally radially disposed blades around the periphery of the top thereof,

a relatively deep fixed annular brush mounted on, and depending from the outer depending rim of said dome shaped turbine housing,

a relatively shallow rotary circular brush mounted on and depending from said impeller, 7

said brushes forming an annular temporary wash water receiving cavity therebetween,

an outer boss at the top ofsaid dome shaped turbine 5 t5 housing having a radially disposed depending cavity References Cited by the Examiner therein, a tubular handle fixed to said housing and connectable UNITED STATES PATENTS to a source of water under pressure, 46167 1/65 Welham jet means in said housing directing Water under pres- 5 2319705 11/35 Huber,"

sure to said turbine blades to drive said impeller, 2678'457 5/54 q et a1 detergent dispensing means connected to said dome 2738528 3/56 shaped housing and communicating through said 2,759,208 8/56 Wllhams 15 29 radial depending cavity in the top thereof with said 2820234 1/58 Rlgney 15 543 annular impeller cavity above said turbine wheel 10 2,904,311 9/59 Rabelow whereby water splashing from said turbine blades as 29 181686 12/59 Sweamgm 15-29 said impeller is rotated thereby mixes detergent en- 3,074,088 1/63 Williams 15-49 tering said housing therewith, and said detergent bearing water passing through the FOREIGN PATENTS space between said impeller and the depending rim 15 69,39 10/ 58 France. of said annular impeller cavity into the annular tem- 744,276 1/ 33 France.

porary wash Water receiving cavity formed by said brushes. CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DETERGENT DISPENSING AND DISPERSING POWER BRUSH, A BRUSH ELEMENT INCLUDING A DOME SHAPED HOUSING HAVING A CENTRAL DEPENDING BOSS AND AN OUTER ANNULAR DEPENDING RIM FORMING AN ANNULAR IMPELLER CAVITY, AN IMPELLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID IMPELLER CAVITY ON SAID CENTRAL DEPENDING BOSS, SAID IMPELLER HAVING A PLURALITY OF CLOSELY SPACED GENERALLY RADIALLY DISPOSED BLADES AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE TOP THEREOF, A RELATIVELY DEEP FIXED ANNULAR BRUSH MOUNTED ON, AND DEPENDING FROM THE OUTER DEPENDING RIM OF SAID DOME SHAPED TURBINE HOUSING, A RELATIVELY SHALLOW ROTARY CIRCULAR BRUSH MOUNTED ON AND DEPENDING FROM SAID IMPELLER, SAID BRUSHES FORMING AN ANNULAR TEMPORARY WASH WATER RECEIVING CAVITY THEREBETWEEN, A RADIALLY DISPOSED OUTER BOSS AT THE TOP OF SAID TURBINE HOUSING, A TUBULAR HANDLE, INCLUDING A HOSE CONNECTION AT THE OUTER END THEREOF, CONNECTED AT ITS INNER END TO SAID HOUSING AT THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID OUTER BOSS THEREOF, SAID HOUSING HAVING JET PASSAGES THEREIN COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID HOLLOW HANDLE AND SAID IMPELLER CAVITY DIRECTING WATER JETS AGAINST SAID IMPELLER BLADES, A DETERGENT DISPENSING SQUEEZE BOTTLE THREADED INTO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID OUTER BOSS ADJACENT TO AND ABOVE SAID HOLLOW HANDLE, SAID OUTER BOSS HAVING A RADIALLY AND UPWARDLY DISPOSED DETERGENT PASSAGE THEREIN EXTENDING FROM SAID DETERGENT DISPENSING BOTTLE OPENING DOWNWARDLY INTO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID ANNULAR IMPELLER CAVITY SUBSTANTIALLY OPPOSITE SAID JET PASSAGES, AND APERTURED DIAPHRAGM MEANS IN SAID DETERGENT PASSAGE NORMALLY CLOSING THE PASSAGE, WITH SAID DIAPHRAGM BEING OPENABLE RESPONSIVE TO SQUEEZING SAID SQUEEZE BOTTLE TO PASS DETERGENT INTO SAID IMPELLER CAVITY. 